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 | | SOMFY AND BROADVIEW COOL CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
| | | Broadview Blinds | | 05/10/2006 | | |
Devising a system of external awnings to prevent heat build up and sun glare in the bedrooms of a children's hospice proved to be one of the most demanding but rewarding projects ever undertaken by Dorset-based Broadview Blinds.
Naomi House, located six miles from Winchester, is a beautiful curved building, which provides each room with a pleasant sunny outlook onto a grassed courtyard. Unfortunately at times too much sunshine was causing discomfort for the children.
To provide the rooms with an effective shading solution that was easy-to-operate and blended seamlessly with the curved architecture of the building Broadview's design team proposed a system of 12 cassetted awnings powered and controlled by Somfy, a world leader in home motion.
Each awning is equipped with a Somfy Orea tubular motor and a radio receiver, which allows the awnings to be operated remotely at the touch of a button using Radio Technology Somfy.
Broadview specified Somfy Telis multi-channel handsets so that the awnings can be operated individually or in unison, and for the ultimate in comfort and safety, the awnings are also linked to four strategically-placed Solids radio light and wind sensors, which will cause the awnings to open or close automatically according to the weather conditions.
Maintaining the visually appealing aesthetic of the building was a key requirement for Broadview's client. This meant the awnings had to blend in with the building roofline when retracted and the fixing brackets had to be invisible. When fully extended the awnings all had to run in a perfect straight line and be level.
'It was a real test of our skills,' said Martin Rayner, Broadview's sales director. 'At the survey stage highly accurate measurements were needed, then we had to manufacture specially designed fixing brackets. The installation took four fitters three days to complete but the end result fitted the client's requirements to the letter.
'Thanks to Somfy, operation of the awnings is literally child's play. In fact specifying the motors and control system was the easiest part of the whole project.'
Andy Dunn, facilities manager for Wessex Children's Hospice Trust, which runs Naomi House, added: 'The installation works really well, keeping the bedrooms pleasantly cool all the time. Broadview did a fantastic job for us.'
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